Optic Flow

Optic Flow requires the brain to make rapid visual discriminations in the center of one's gaze while staying alert to potential hazards in the periphery. The task in Optic Flow takes place while driving down a road in different navigation conditions including simulations of rain, fog, and night.

Optic Flow proceeds as follows:

1. Click "Start," and a road sign will soon appear that shows a target shape and color. This sign always appears first and by itself.
   
2. Next, four objects will appear on the horizon, one to the left of the road, one to the right of the road, and one in each lane on the road. These may be vehicles, road signs, or other objects commonly found near highways. Each one of these objects will have a colored shape on it.
   
3. The objects will quickly get closer. Click the object with the same target shape as shown in step 1, above. The shape and color must match exactly.
   Tip!: You can use the number keys on your keyboard instead of clicking with your mouse. Use the numbers 1-4 to select the sections of the screen, as shown above.
4. After a response is given, the exercise resets at step 1 for the next trial.

In later stages of Optic Flow, the exercise gets harder in these ways:

• The shapes on the vehicles become more similar.
• The driving conditions change, making it more difficult to find the target shape.
• The backgrounds become more complex and distracting as you move from the desert to the suburbs, and finally to the bustling city.
• The exercise adapts to individual performance by reducing the time to find the target shape.

Train with Optic Flow to feel more confident taking in all the action on the road--whether driving, jogging, riding your bike, or walking. More information on Optic Flow can be found here.